{"id":325232,"date":"2024-10-23T16:55:52","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T15:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=325232"},"modified":"2024-10-23T16:55:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T15:55:52","slug":"factional-feud-escalates-in-iran-over-zarif-appointment-amid-domestic-and-regional-crises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/iranian-regime-infighting\/factional-feud-escalates-in-iran-over-zarif-appointment-amid-domestic-and-regional-crises\/","title":{"rendered":"Factional Feud Escalates in Iran Over Zarif Appointment Amid Domestic and Regional Crises"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The appointment of Mohammad Javad Zarif as Strategic Deputy to the President has reignited a fierce power struggle within Iran\u2019s political establishment, as factions vie for influence amid the ongoing regional crisis. From the onset, even before Masoud Pezeshkian<\/a>‘s administration was sworn in, the Paydari Front, a faction closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been relentlessly undermining Pezeshkian’s authority. This internal clash has exposed deeper rifts within the regime, signaling that even Khamenei’s influence is waning within his own camp as he struggles to maintain unity amid mounting domestic and international pressures.<\/p>\n

The Paydari Front, which includes vocal figures like Hamid Rasaee, has made no secret of its disdain for Zarif. Rasaee and his allies see Zarif as a symbol of failed diplomacy, particularly due to his association with the 2015 nuclear deal, which they believe jeopardizes the regime\u2019s survival.<\/p>\n

Taking to social media on October 20, Rasaee announced<\/a> that 45 members of parliament had referred the issue of Zarif’s appointment to the legislative body, stating, “If the commission\u2019s report is approved by parliament, this illegal appointment by the President will be fast-tracked for judicial review without the usual legal formalities.” His remarks, shared on social media, underscored the determination of the faction aligned with Khamenei to confront what they see as existential threats to the regime’s stability.<\/p>\n

These factions\u2019 willingness to confront Pezeshkian so aggressively highlights a significant shift: Khamenei’s traditional control over the faction is slipping. As the Paydari Front pushes its agenda, even against the Supreme Leader\u2019s interest in preserving internal unity, it suggests that Khamenei can no longer afford to suppress factional disputes, reflecting a broader erosion of his influence.<\/p>\n

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Power Struggle Intensifies in #Iran<\/a> as Rival Factions Slam #Pezeshkian<\/a>\u2019s Governmenthttps:\/\/t.co\/j6FF8DT5LL<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n